Scandinavian
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4
This is the Portuguese Variation, where "the resulting play is often similar to the Icelandic Gambit [3.c4 e6]," according to Wikipedia.
4.Bb5+ Nbd7
This is the main reply in ChessBase's 2022 Mega database. If 4...Bd7, White can play 5.Bc4, and if
5...Bg4 then 6.f3 seems pleasant for White. Also possible is 4...c6 5.dxc6!? and either 5...Nxc6 or 5...Qa5+, but not 5...Bxd1?? 6.c7+ (6.cxb7+?? Nbd7) Nc6 7.cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 9.Kxd1 Rxd4+ 10.Ke2, after which White is a bishop up.
5.Be2
It might at first be thought White has simply lost a tempo, since the same position, but with the black queen's knight undeveloped, can be reached with 4.Be2, but then 4...Bxe2 5.Qxe2 Qxd5 gives the black queen an active post.
5...Bf5?!
Probably better is 5...Bxe2 6.Qxe2 Nxd5, when material is equal but White will gain the lion's share of the centre.
6.c4
There are lines in the Scandinavian, such as the Icelandic Gambit, where defending the d5 pawn with c4 gives Black the chance for active play with ...e6 or ...c6. But those lines involve Black meeting dxe6 or dxc6 by capturing with an undeveloped piece. Here, after ...
6...e6
...which looks as if it will be necessary sooner or later, the continuation ...
7.dxe6 Bxe6
... involves Black capturing with an already developed piece.
 |
| Black has a lead in development, but that is nowhere near enough compensation for a pawn, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02 |
*****
*****
*****
*****
8.Nf3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c5?!
Gaining space but giving Black the d5 square as an outpost.
10...Be7 11.Nc3 c6 12.Bf4 Nd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Re1 Bf6!? 15.Bd6 Re8 16.Qd2 Be7 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Qd3 Qc7 19.Ng5 Nf6 20.Bf3
 |
| How should Black proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
20...Rae8?!
This natural-looking continuation may be a mistake. The engines prefer 20...g6, albeit giving White the upper hand.
21. Rxe7 Rxe7
Or 21...Qxe7 22.Bxd5, when 22...Qe1+ 23.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 24.Qf1 Rxf1+ 25.Kxf1 Nxd5 leaves White a pawn up. and with the more-active king, in a knight-and-pawn ending.
22.Bxd5 cxd5
This recapture is forced, but White no longer has a backward d pawn and has a 3-2 queenside pawn-majority.
23.g3 Qd7 24.Kg2 Qg4 25.Nf3 g6
If 25...Nh5 26.Qd2 Re2!?, White has 27.Re1, but not 27.Qxe2?? Nf4+ 28.Kf1 Nxe2 29.Kxe2 Qe4+ and 30...Qxf3.
26.h3 Qe6!?
The engines are not too unhappy with this, but prefer 26...Qe4!?
27.Re1 Qd7 28.Rxe7 Qxe7 29.Qe3 Ne4 30.Nd2 Qe6 31.Nxe4 dxe4
 |
| How would you assess this queen-and-pawn ending? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
White again has a backward d pawn, but is a pawn up and has a 4-2 farside pawn-majority. Komodo13.02 reckons White's advantage is worth almost a minor piece, while Stockfish15 reckons it is worth almost a rook.
32.b3 Kg7 33.Qf4 Qc6 34.f3?
White is still better after this, but exposing the king in a queen-and-pawn ending gives the opponent practical drawing chances. The engines reckon White now only has the upper hand.
 |
| What should Black play? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
34...exf3+
34...exf3+
Obvious, but the engines give 34...Qa6!?, when 35.Qxe4 Qxa2+ is completely equal, according to the engines. Best may be 35.Qd2 e3!? 36.Qc2 Qe6 with counterplay thanks to having a passed pawn.
35.Qxf3 Qa6 36.a4 Qa5 37.Qe3
The black queen has no invasion square.
37...Qd8
Not 37...Qb4? 38.d5 etc.
38.Qe5+ Kh6 39.b4 f6 40.Qe4 a6 41.d5 Qd7 42.a5 f5 43.Qe3+ Kg7 44.Qd4+ Kh6 45.h4 Qe7 46.Kf3 Qd7
Not 46...Qe1? 47.Qe3+.
47.Qf4+ Kg7 48.Qe5+ Kh6 49.Kg2
Even stronger, according to the engines, is 49.d6!?, meeting 49...Qc6+ with 50.Kf4 or 50.Kf2!?, eg 50.Kf2!? Qh1 51.Qe3+ Kg7 52.d7 Qh2+ 53.Kf3 Qh1+ 54.Kf4 Qf1+ 55.Ke5 Qa1+ 56.Qd4 Qe1+ 57.Kd6+ etc.
49...Qa4 50.d6 Qc2+ 51.Kh3 Qd1 52.Qe3+ Kh5?
On 52...Kg7 I intended 53.Qe7+ Kh6 54.Qxb7 Qg4 55.Kh2. In a mini-postmortem RK pointed out 55...f4, but there is no perpetual, eg 56.Qg2 fxg3+ 57.Qxg3 Qe2+ 58.Kg1 Qd1+ 59.Kg2 Qe2+ 60.Qf2 Qg4+ 61.Kh2.
53.Qg5#.
No comments:
Post a Comment